How to Make a Melted Snowman Christmas Gag Gift

A melting snowman will fit right in with other funny or personable collectibles. (Image: http://z.about.com/d/painting/1/0/a/C/stencil-snowman3.gif, http://cache.viewimages.com/xc/73090418.jpg?v=1&c=ViewImages&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF19390335F8FA9CA92A6B0CE3C07DCA7901F26D5502F4A3FD04B)

Simple, funny, homemade crafts can be a perfect--and inexpensive--way to show colleagues, coworkers or a child's teacher or coach that you are thinking of them during the holiday season. By making these crafts with your child, you get to spend extra, creative time with them while also providing a source for this type of present. A melting snowman makes a great seasonal conversation piece and will remind recipients of your good Christmas or winter wishes for years to come.

Things You'll Need

Round or slightly rounded rock

White paint

Paint brush

Black permanent marker

Orange marker

Black felt

Tiny sticks

Green poster board

Scissors

Craft glue

Glitter

Paint the rock white. Use a paint brush to get the paint into all the irregularities on the rock's surfaces. If you prefer, you can spray paint the rock but you will need to use several coats and paint all of the sides including the bottom.

Cut a circle out of the poster board. This will be the base for the melting snowman, so make sure that the circle of poster board is larger than the rock.

Use green poster board to indicate that the snow around your snowman has melted, revealing the grass.

Glue a little glitter onto the poster board circle. This glitter is the snow that is left on the grass, so do not sprinkle the glitter too heavily.

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Cut out a small hat shape out of the black felt. The hat can be as big or as small as you like, but make sure it is clearly recognizable as a top hat.

You can use a top hat stencil or cut the shape freehand.

Draw a face on the top of the rock. Use the black permanent marker, and make sure that the paint is entirely dry before you begin. Use the orange marker to draw on a carrot nose.

Glue the rock to the cardboard base. The result will look like a melting snowman staring up at you out of the grass.

Add tiny sticks or toothpicks for arms and the top hat. They can be glued to the rock itself or just lying on the ground next to the snowman, as if they fell off as he began to melt.

Other People Are Reading

Write the date in small letters on the green cardboard base with the permanent marker. You can also write a message if you wish. For example, if you are giving the snowman to a teacher, you might write, "Merry Christmas Miss Jones! (Your child's name) 2008" at the bottom so she will remember who gave her the gift for years.

Tips & Warnings

A group of 3 or 4 of these figurines in different sizes can make a cute centerpiece for a table or buffet.